Seeing eye to eye: Rajasekaran (third from left) meeting with taxi drivers in Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan.
PORT DICKSON: Taxi drivers in this popular beach town are seeking a RM300 subsistence allowance and a diesel subsidy from the government, similar to the support that has been extended to fishermen.
“The burdens on taxi drivers are getting heavier. We hope the government will take into account the high cost of living and the escalating competition within the taxi industry,” said Port Dickson Taxi Drivers and Rental Car Owners Welfare Association secretary Haji Mohd Alwi Taib.
He said the government used to grant taxi drivers a diesel subsidy of RM800, but, unfortunately, this was eventually withdrawn.
“Previously, we had the taxi drivers’ welfare card, which carried a value of RM800 and could be used to purchase petrol or natural gas at PETRONAS stations across the country,” he said after a dialogue between taxi drivers and Pakatan Harapan’s Sri Tunjong candidate G. Rajasekaran.These taxi drivers pointed out that fishermen had been receiving RM300 in aid and diesel subsidies, so they hoped for similar treatment.
Mohd Alwi brought up another issue: despite taxis receiving a 50% discount on highway tolls, the toll fare from Port Dickson to Seremban remained at RM2.60, which was the same price that other car drivers paid.
“We hope the Transport Ministry and the government will address the problem,” he said.
Additionally, deputy president Mohana Chandran said that some ride-sharing drivers would pick up passengers at the marina area of the Port Dickson jetty, although they were not using ehailing apps.
“It’s not that we disagree with them coming into the marina area to pick up passengers. As long as they get the booking through an ehailing platform, they can pick up passengers or drop them off.
“But some of these drivers would even offer discounts to passengers. They would wait until they got four passengers into the car before leaving. We have complained to the Road Transport Department and after some instances of enforcing the law, these drivers continue to do the same,” he said.
Association president Mustapa Abdullah said they would convey the problems to the new state representatives to seek a solution.
Rajasekaran acknowledged that the taxi drivers had voiced their problems to him and that if elected, he would help in solving these local issues.
Rajasekaran and Zabidi Ariffin of Perikatan Nasional will be running for the Sri Tanjong state seat, which covers Port Dickson.
It is among the 36 seats up for grabs in the state polls on Aug 12.
